Apparatus for



(No Model.)

- G.- PHILLIPS.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING POSTAGE STAMPS AND LABELS.

nted Mali-5,4813

Pat

I fix N, PETER& Maw-Lithograph". Wallllngton, D- C.

UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE PHILLIPS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING POSTAGE-STAMPS AND LABELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,326, dated March 15, 1887.

Application filed April 2, 1886. Serial No. 197,513. No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE PHILLIPS, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Applying Postage-Stamps and Labels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus or devices which comprise cases or receptacles into which the postage-stamps or labels which are to be applied to letters, papers, and other articles are placed with their gummed backs uppermost in a pile within the receptacle or case, and in the operation of which the letter, paper, or other article, with the place for the stamp or label suitably moistened, is placed beneath a vertically-movable follower arranged over the receptacle or case, and by it is pressed down against the top of the pile of stamps or labels, so as to cause the uppermost stampor label to adhere thereto.

An essential element of my invention consists in a receptacle or case which is composed in part of a fixed wall or walls, serving as a gage in placing a letter or article in place, and in part of a spring-supported wall or walls adapted to yield downward with the letter or article when the latter is pressed upon by the vertically-movable follower. I prefer to make the fixed portion of the receptacle or case of angular form, so that it forms two walls of the receptacle or case, meeting at a right angle in a horizontal plane, and I preferably make the movable portion of a similar angular portion, forming the other two walls of the receptacle or case.

Theinvention consists in novel combinations of parts, which are hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of an apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation upon the plane of the dotted line :0 m, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 4 is a plan of two stamp receptacles or cases embodying my invention.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The apparatus shown to illustrate my invention comprises a moistening-pad, A, and two receptacles, B B, for stamps of different .around which the springs 11 are arranged.

' denominations. The moistening-pad and the two receptacles or cases are arranged in different horizontal planes or are stepped one above another, as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, in order to enable the letter, paper, or other article to be more conveniently applied to the moistening-pad, and then placed over one or other of the two receptacles or cases B B.

Of course a greater number of receptacles or cases than two might be employed when it is desired to hold stamps of more than two denominations.

The moistening-pad A,-which may consist of a piece of felt or other suitable material, extends downward through a tube or case, G, into a liquid-reservoir, O, and above the pad 'is a vertically-movable follower, D, which is supported by springs b, and may be pushed downward or depressed, so as to bring the letter or paper placed beneath it against the moistening-pad A. As here represented, the

follower 1) is formed upon a base-plate, D, which slides downward over the tube 0, the base-plate being provided with guide-rods b,

If aletter be placed beneath the movable follower D and the latter depressed, so as to bring the letter against the moistening-pad A, a suitable quantity of moisture will be applied to the place for the stamp by drawing the letter outward from between the follower and the pad while it is held in contact with the pad. As here shown, the ends of the pad are wedge shape or inclined in opposite directions from the center, so as to better apply the moisture,

and the pad is of the same form at each end, so that it may be reversed in position when desired.

Each stamp-receptacle has arranged above it a vertically-movable follower, E, which, as here represented, is secured at the upper end of a sliding rod, E, fitted to guides c on the outside of the apparatus and provided at the bottom with a foot portion, E, which plays upon the guide-rod c, surrounded by a spiral spring, 0 The follower E is connected with the sliding rod E by a screw or pin, 0 which plays in the slot 0 in the side of the case, and

each sliding rod E is or may be provided with a finger-piece, 0 whereby it may be pressed downward against the force exerted by the springs a". The follower E may be pressed downward by placing the hand directly upon it, or by applying the hand to the finger-piece e, and when pressure is removed from the follower it will be at once elevated by the action of the spring e".

Each receptacle or case 13 B, for stamps or labels, is composed of a fixed portion, F, and a vertically-movable portion, F. The fixed portion F, I prefer to make of angular form in its horizontal section, so that it will constitute two sides and one corner of the receptacle or case, and will therefore serve as a gage to properly fix the position of aletterintroduced beneath the movable follower E. The movable portion F of the receptacle or case I also prefer to make of similar angular form, so it will constitute the other two sides or walls and another corner of the receptacle or case. The proper relation of the fixed and movable portions of the receptacles or cases will be best understood from Fig. I.

Although I prefer to make the movable por tion F of angular form, as in the receptacle B, it may consist of a simple straight plate, as in the receptacle 1 constituting only one side of the receptacle or case, as shown best in thelower portion of Fig. 4. The fixed portion F of the receptacle or case will then constitute a gage for properly placing a letter in position, and one side of the receptacle or case will be open, as shown in Fig. :L. This, however, will not be particularly objectionable. The movable portion F of each receptacle or case is properly guided in its movements, and is supported by a spring, so that while it will yield downward under pressure it will be at once moved upward to its former position when the pressure is removed. As here represented t-he movable portion F of each receptacle or case is supported by a plunger, 17, working vertically in a suitable guideway, 11, and supported by a spring, (1*.

In the operation of my apparatus the place for the stamp upon the envelope is first moistened, and the receptacles or cases having been previously filled with stamps, as shown in the drawings, the letter is introduced beneath the follower E of one or other of the receptacles B B, and the follower being pressed down the letter and the movable portion F of the rcceptaele or case will also be pressed down, so that the letter will press against the uppermost stamp of the pile and the stamp will become firmly fixed thereto. XVhen pressure is removed from the follower, the latter will be at once raised by its spring a", and the letter is then withdrawn with a stamp upon it. As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each follower E fits against and slides vertically relatively to the fixed portion F of the receptacle or case and overlaps the movable portion F, the edge or edges of the follower belng about coincident with the outer faee or faces of the movable portion F.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a receptacle or case for stamps or gummed labels, composed in part of a fixed wall or walls, serving as a gage in placing the letter or article in place, and in part oia spring-supported wall or walls adapted to yield downward with the letter or article, of a follower arranged above the receptacle or case and movable vertically with the movable portion and relatively to the fixed portion thereof, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with the receptacle or case composed of the fixed angular portion F, forming two walls thereof and serving as a gage, and the vertically-yielding angular portion F, forming the other two walls, of a fol lower arranged above the receptacle or case and movable with the portion F and relatively to the portion F, and separate springs for raising the portion F and the follower, substantially as herein described.

3. In an apparatus for applying postagestamps or gummed labels, the combination of a moistening-pad and receptacles or cases severally provided above their open tops with vertically-sliding followers, the pad and the receptacles or cases for stamps of different denominations being arranged in different horizontal planes and out of line vertically or stepped one above another, substantially as herein described.

GEORGE PHILLIPS.

\Vitnesses:

FRI-IDK. Haynes, Fnrr. H'mrrnn. 

